Electrical recording device



June 6, 1950 P. A. KusTRA ELECTRICAL RECORDING nEvlCE 2 sheets-sheet 1 Filed March 18, 1947 E' "f Bix/E A z z z/za A 2o /s 4 /3 PETER A. KUSTRA June 6, 1950 P. A. KusTRA 2,510,747

ELECI'RICAL RECORDING DEVICE Filed March 18, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2` s1 7 7627 s1 A /06 /07 HG' 8 FG- 9 PETER A. KusTRA f4 r remue 7 Patented June 6, 1950 asma? UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Y ELECTRICAL RECORDING DEVICE Peter A. Kustra, St. Louis, Mo. Application March 18. 1947, serial No. 735,372 I (Cl. k17o-f5.5)

7 Claims.

This invention relates to electrical recording devices, and particularly to such a, structure which is used to make a record of the calling partys telephone number on a similar structure which is connected with the called partys telephone. As far as I am aware, there is now no apparatus in use whereby the calling party can make a record of his number for the information of the called party when the called telephone is not answered, for instance, when there is no one within hearing of the telephone bell who could answer and take down a number; and the main object of the present invention is to supply this need. My device is of simple construction, having few'parts and those of such a'nature as not likely to get out of order through ordinary usage.

In the drawings- Fig. l is a top plan View of my electrical record- 'ing device.

Fig.l 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on line 2 2, Fig. 1, showing particularly the im. pulsating unit.

, Fig. 3 is a View taken on line 3 3, Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view taken on line 4 4, Fig. 1, showing the selector unit.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged view taken on Fig. 1.

' Fig. 6 is a view taken on line 6 6, Fig. 4, showing the selector unit.

Fig. 7 is a View taken on line 1 1, Fig. 4,

Fig. 8 is an enlarged View taken on line 3 8, Fig. 1, showing one of the recording unit operating members.

Fig. 9 is a view taken on line 9 9, Fig. 8.

VFig.10 is a View taken on line iB I, Fig. 8.

, The invention comprises mechanism for impulsating a unit connected with the calling telephone to transmit the calling number to mechanism connected with the called telephone in or-' der to record the calling number. Identical mechanisms are connected with both the calling and the called telephones, so that either is capable both of transmitting the calling number and of receiving and making a record thereof at the called number, and of clearing the mechanism. This entire mechanism is enclosed in a housing A.

My device consists generally of three units enclosed in the housing A, which comprise an impulsating unit B, a selector unit C, and a recording unit D, each of the units B, C, and D being connected by wires directly with the electrical circuit that operates the telephone.

The impulsating unit B consists of a wheel I having several groups of peripheral teeth thereon designated by the numerals 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6,

line 5 5,

respectively. The impulsating wheel I is mounted on a rotatable shaft 1 which is journaledy ats in two supports 9 and I0, respectively, secured to the bottom of the housing A and extending upwardly therefrom. Asmall gear wheel Il is rr'nly secured to one side of the impulsating wheel I and surrounds the shaft 1 and rotates therewith.

The housing A at its top'has an upwardly extending. portion E, in which is contained a sole' noidl I2 secured to a. support I3 extending vfor-V wardly from the rear of the upwardly extending portion E. A bar I4,- providedat its `lower pore. tion `with a vseriesof teeth I5, extends longitudi. nally through the solenoid I2, .the teeth I5mesh ingwiththe gear wheel I I for' the purpose of ro-` tating. the Vwheel I in a clockwise direction. A stop I4.' is provided on the bar .I4 and may. be at any convenient placev forlimiting its downward movement when the solenoid I2 is energized, so that the wheel I, when rotated by the teeth I5 of the bar/I4, will only move one complete revolution in a clockwise direction. The bar I4 is held by and slidable through the upper, forwardly exn f tending end of a support I5 which is mounted inside of the housing A (Fig. y2.)

The solenoid I2 is connected by a wire I1 to a terminal -contact member I8. A wire I 9 connected with another terminal contact member 2,9 leads to the telephone circuit, so that an electrical impulse may be conducted from the telephone`cir' cuit .throughsaid wire I9. A push button 2| exe'` tends upwardly from the top of the housing A .(Fig..2) and is vsurrounded by a compression spring 22 for restoring said push button toits original position when pressure on said button is' released. v At the lower end of therod 23 of the push button 2I is secured a metal plate 24 which, when the'push button 2| is depressed, contacts both of the terminal contact members I3 and 259 so as to conduct the electrical current from the wire I9 to the solenoid I2 for energizing said *sole noid.v -The electrical current,passingthrough the wire I9 and the terminal Contact members I 8 and 20, passes through the wire I1,r through the solee noid I2, and through a wire 25 back to the telef' phone circuit. When energized the solenoid I2 drives, thebar I4 downwardly, which causes the teeth I5, meshing with the gear wheel I I to rotate the impulsating wheel I a full revolution in av y of teeth 2, 3, 4,.5,`and.6 on the periphery of the cuit to the iiexible conducting member 39. The a flexible members 39 and 3| terminate at their outer ends in contact points 35. rIhe flexible member 30 is preferably provided with a bend 36 which lies against the bottom face of the finger and provides a rounded bearing for moving said member 39 downwardly. The insulating block 29 is located just beneath the pivotal mounting of the nger 26. The member 39 has sufficient springiness to restore it, to its uppermost position when pressure thereon is released..

The wire 34 leads to a magnet 31, which magnet is a part of the selector unit C. A wire 38 leads from the magnet 31 to return the electrical current back to the telephone circuit. The purpose of the wires 34v and 38, is to permit the magnet 31 to be electrically energized when the terminal points 35 are pressed together, thusY closing the circuit.

A coil spring 39 is secured at its lower end to a member 4|]V projecting from an edge of the bar I 4- and is attached at its upper end to another bar 4| on the inclined portion of the support I6. When thel bar I4 is. driven downwardly by the energizing of the solenoid |'2 asV far as; the stop I4" will permit, the spring 39 is stretched, and

when the bar I4 reaches its lowermost position and pressure upon the button 2| is released and the solenoid is de-energized, the spring 39 will return the bar I4 to its upper position. As the teeth I5 mesh with the teeth on the gear wheel II, the impulsating wheel I is rst turned in a clockwise direction as the bar I4 moves downwardly,A and' in a counterclockwise direction when said' bar moves upwardly.

As the impulsating wheel I rotates in a clockwise direction, the groups of teeth 6, 5, 4, 3, and 2 strike against the inclined point 21 of the pivoted nger 2,6, lifting said finger to permit the groups of teeth to pass thereby without operatingv any of the recording mechanism. When the impulsating wheel I has made a complete revolution in a clockwise direction, and tends to return when the solenoid is cie-energized through the action of the spring 39 in a counterclockwise direc-:tion to its original position, the teeth in each group will strike the upper, outer point 21 of the pivoted linger 26, depressing the same against the bent portion 36 on the flexible member 30. causing said member to be flexed downwardly and bringing the contact points together, thus permitting current to pass through wire 3.3, flexible member 36, contact points 35, and flexible member 3| to wire 34, and thence to the magnet 31 (Fig. 4). The contact points 35 are preferably quite close to each other.

As the first tooth in the group 2 strikes against the end 21 of the pivoted finger 26 and the contact between the points 35 is made, and the magnet 31 is energized, the selector wheel 42 is advanced in a clockwise direction one step in the following manner: An arm 43 is pivoted at v44 to a support 45 which projects upwardly and interiorly from the bottom of the housing A. To one end of the arm 43 is pivotally secured another arm 46 extending upwardly and outwardly so that the upper point 41 thereof may engage a tooth 48, as seen most clearly in Fig. 4. The arm 46 and its upper end 41 are held in the position shown in Fig. 1 by a spring 49 which passes about a pin 5U, which pivots the arm 46 to the arm 43. The free ends of said spring 49 rest against stops 5| and 52 on the arms 46 and 43. respectively.

A spring is secured to a projection 54 on the support 4-5 and to the undersidev of the arm 43, as shown at 55, which spring tends to restore the arm 43 to its normal position shown in Fig. 4 when said arm is released from Contact with the magnet 31. As the magnet 31 is energized by the, current passing through the wire 34, the inner end of the arm 43 is pulled down against a portion 56 of the magnet 31, which causes the arm 46 and its point 41 to be moved upwardly the space of a tooth 48. When this has been accomplished, an arm 51 slips, into Contact with a tooth 48, which has been moved upwardly by the arm 46, thus locking the selector wheel 42 in its advanced position the length of one tooth. The arm 51 is pivoted at 59 to the upper end of the support 45.V A. spring 59 is coiled about the pivot i59', one end of said spring resting against a stop 66 on the arm 51 and its other end resting against a stop 6| near the top of the support 45, which tends to keep the upper end of the arm 51 resting against the periphery of the selec-tor wheel 42 and engaging against a tooth 48', as shown in Fig.` 4.

Also pivoted at 58 is another arm 62' which extends at a right angle to arm 51. A magnet 63, having a contact point 64, is intended, when energized, to pull the upper end of the arm 62 against the contact point 64, which moves the arm 51 out of contact with a tooth 48. The electrical` current for energizing the magnet 63 passes through a wire 65, which is a continuation of a wire 65 shown in Fig. 4, which wire 66 is connected to a contact point 61 located in an insulated member 68 secured by screws 69 to the upper, inside portion of the housing A, also shown in Fig. Ll. Another wire 19, also having a contact point 1I located in the member 58, leads to the magnet 63, so that when a push button 12 is depressed a plate 13 at the lower end of a pin 14 on the push button 12 presses against the contact points 61y and 1I. Wires 15 having contact points 16 in the member 68 lead to the telephone circuit. When the button 12 is depressed, establishing contact between the contact points 61, 1|, and 16, electrical energy passes to the magnet 63 and energizes said magnet, causing the outer end of the arm 52' to move downwardly against the contact point 64 of the magnet 63, thus pulling downwardly the upper end of arm y51 to dissociate the same from a tooth 48 of the selector wheel 42.

Integral with the arm 51 is another arm 11, angularly disposed to said arm 51 andattached to said arm at the point where the arm 51 is pivoted at 58, as shown in Fig. 4. At the forward end of the arm` 11 is a projection 18 which extends at a right angle from the face of the arm 11 and against which the arm 46 is adapted to rest. Another projection 19 extends from an eX- tension 39 on the upper part of the arm 11, which projection rests against the lower edge of the arm 51. A stop 8| is provided for the purpose of limiting the downward movement of the arm 11. The stop 3| is an integral part of the support 45 and projects outwardly therefrom.

When the arm 62 is moved downwardly against l 48, thus releasing the selector wheel 42 from contact with both of the arms 46 and 51.

This permits the selector wheel 42 to return to its normal position as shown in Fig. 4 through the action of a coil spring 82, which is secured at its inner end to a shaft 83 and its outer end rests against a stop 84. From the shaft 83 projects an arm 85, which also strikes against the stop 84`when the selector wheel 42 is in the neutral position shown in Fig. 4. The shaft 83, on which is mounted the selector wheel 42, is journaled in the upper ends of supports 86 which project upwardly from the bottom of the interior of the housing A.

To one face of the selector Wheel 42 near the periphery thereof and extending at a right angle thereto is an arm 81, shown most clearly in Fig. 6.v At the outer end of the arm 81 is a double electrical contact member 88, which is movable step by step the length of a tooth 48 on the selector wheel 42 when the magnet 31 is energized, thus causing the arm 46 to advance the selector wheel 42 the space of Va tooth 48.

An insulated assembly, which I have represented generally by the letter H, is secured by screws 89 to one of the supports 86. The insulated assembly H is composed of a section of insulating material 98, which presses against a metallic section 9|, said section 9| being connected by a wire 92 to the telephone circuit. Against the metallic section 8| is another insulated section 93 in which there are segments 94, 95, 96, 91, 98, 99, |88, |8I, |82, and |83, insulated from each other, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. Another metallic section |84 is secured in the assembly H by the screws 89, and from this section |84 a wire |85 leads back to the telephone circuit.

When the magnet 31 is energized and draws down the free end of the bar 43, thus imparting movement to the selector 42 to the extent of one of the teeth 48, this moves the bar 81, which prorjects from near the periphery of the unit wheel 42, forwardly one step, thus bringing one of the contact points 88 into engagement with the rst segment 94, the other being always in contact 'with the periphery of metallic section 8|, and

electric current passes from the metallic section 9| through the contact points 88 and the segment 94, through a wire |86 to a magnet |81, thus energizing said magnet.

The device shown in Fig. 8 is the recording device D, and the same mechanism is associated with each of the recording wheels |88, |88, H8, I Il, and I I2. Each of the segments 84 to |83, inclusive, is connected by wires similar to wire |85 above referred to with magnets similar to magnet |81 (Fig. 8), and the mechanism shown in Fig. 8 is identical with the mechanism for operating recording wheels |88, H8, and H2, which appear in Figs. 9 and 10.

wheels can be diminished or added to, should there be more or less than four groups of, digits in the telephone numbers. As shown in Fig. 9, the broken away portion of the shaft ||5 near the righthand side of said ligure is intended to designate that a series of groups of exchange and telephone numbers can be placed in line in the recording bank D, so that several telephone numbers may be represented in the recording mechanism J adjacent the called -partys telephone (Fig. 1).

It will be noted that the teeth 48 on the selector wheel 42 are greater in length than the teeth ||1 on the toothed member ||4 attached to the wheel ||3. The reason for this will be hereinafter explained.

When the magnet |81 is energized as the arm 81 and the contact members 92 move into contact step by step with the segments 94 to |83, inclusive, it immediately brings down the arm ||8 against the contact member ||8 in the magnet |81, which forces up the arm |28, which in turn moves the toothed wheel H4, which moves upwaradly the wheel i3 and the toothed wheel I4 attached thereto the space of one toothed |2I.

The wheel |88, which in Figs. 9 and 10 designates the exchange, is moved clockwise one tooth 2| each time the magnet |81 is energized, thus operating the arms H8 and |28 for moving in a clockwise direction the wheel |88 and one of the teeth l2! on the toothed member H4 attached to the wheel |83. The operation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 8 is identical with the operation of the mechanisms shown in Fig. 4, and it is believed that a description of which mechanism at this point would be a duplication and is unnecessary. It should be noted, however, that due to the much shorter distance between the teeth |2| on the toothed wheel ||4 than the teeth 48 on the selector wheel 42, the wheels |88 to H2, inclusive, move step by step so rapidly that the selector wheel 42 does not move another step or tooth until the first tooth of the next group comes in contact with the point 21 of the arm 26.

The reason for the diierence in length between the teeth 48 and the teeth |2| is to maintain the selector Wheel 42 in its one-tooth advanced position while the recording wheels in the group D are being advanced the required number of digits without shifting the selector wheel 42 until the entire movement of the wheel |88 is completed. It will be noted that the space between the lower edge of the arm 43 and the contact member 56 of the magnet 31 is the same distance as the length of a tooth 48 on the selector wheel 42, as shown in Fig. 4. As shown in Fig. 8, the distance between the lower edge of the bar I8 and the contact member ||9 of the magnet |81 is the distance of a tooth |2| on the toothed wheel ||4 secured to the wheel |88. Thus the wheel |88 and the other wheels |89 to 2, inclusive, are movable much more rapidly than the selector wheel 42, so that contact with the pointed end of the pivoted ringer 26 is brief, and so that each of the teeth in the group 2 and the other groups 3, 4, 5, and 6 is only sufficient to move the wheels |88, |88, H8, Ill, and ||2 without fully moving the selector wheel 42 the space of a tooth 48. It will be noted in Fig. 2 that there is an appreciable space between each of the groups of teeth 2, 3, 4, 5, `and 8, and that in each group the individual teeth are so spaced from each other as to permit only contact with the pointed end 21 of the finger 26 for such a length of time as to energize the magnets |81 for the purpose of serially moving the Wheels |08, |09, H0, lll, and ||2 the space of one lof the teeth |2|. When the second bank of teeth in the group 3 moves into engagement with the end 21 of the nger 26, as with the iirst tooth in group 2, the first contact is sufficiently long to energize the magnet 3'! to advance the selector Wheel 42 the full length of a tooth d where said selector Wheel 42 is held by the arm 51 in its advanced position so that each of the segments 94 to |03, inclusive, can be contacted step by step by' the movement in a clockwise direction of selector 'Wheel 42 and through the arm 8l' and one of the contact points 88.

From the preceding description, it will be seen that the mechanism is limited in its scope to setting up only one set of numbers; inother words, only yone call [can be registered at the called station. In order that two or more incoming calls may be recorded, it is only necessary to duplicate the mechanism herein illustrated and described.

When the recorded numbers of the several calling telephones have been noted by the person called, the recording mechanism can be cleared by pressing a button |22 (Fig. 1), which energizes the magnets 63 and |23 (similar magnets being connected to each of the Wheels 42, Hi8, |69, H6, IH, and I I2) The Wires |24 are connected with the telephone circuit so that the magnets |23 may be energized when the button |22 is depressed.

As the magnet |23 is energized, the arm |25 is pulled down against a contact member 52e on the magnet |23, which releases an arm |21 from its contact With a tooth |2| and also releases the arm |32@ from contact with a tooth |2|, as described heretofore in connection with the selector mechanism shown in Fig. 4, thus permitting the Wheel |08 and the remaining Wheels Ille-l I2, inclusive, to be returned each through its spring |28 in a counterclockwise direction until the arm |29 strikes against the pin ISU, as shown in Fig. 8, thus clearing the recording mechanism.

The exchange letters and the numerals appearing on the periphery of the Wheels |08 to ||2, inclusive, may be small venough so that only a short step by step movement of the wheels |08 to ||2, inclusive, is necessary, and preferably through a magnifying glass |3| inserted in a slot |32 in the housing A the letters and figures appearing on said Wheels may be easily read.

I claim:

l. An electrical recording device comprising o series of units operable consecutively, and consisting of an impulsating unit, a `selector unit, and a recording unit, means for first operating said impulsating unit in a clockwise direction a complete revolution, means for returning said impulsating unit in a counterclockwise movement to its neutral position, a pivoted member in the path of travel of groups of teeth consecutively arranged on the periphery of said impulsating unit, said pivoted member being operated for imparting movement to the selector unit when the first group of teeth come in contact with said pivoted member as said impulsating unit returns to its neutral position, said rst group of teeth also imparting movement to the said recording unit by contacting said pivoted member, each of said groups of teeth first imparting a one step movement to said selector unit and thereafter imparting movement to said recording unit, and means .for clearing said selector and recording units.

2. An electrical recording device comprising a series of units operable consecutively, and consisting of an impulsating unit, a selector unit, and a recording unit, means for rst operating said impulsating unit in a clockwise direction a complete revolution, means for returning said impulsating unit in a counterclockwise movement to its neutral position, a pivoted member in the path of travel of groups of teeth consecutively arranged on the periphery of said impulsating unit, said pivoted member being operated for imparting movement to the selector unit when the rst group of teeth come in contact with said pivoted member as said impulsating unit returns to its neutral position, said first group of teeth also imparting movement to the said recording unit by contacting said pivoted member, each of said groups of teeth rst imparting a one step movement to said selector unit and thereafter imparting a step by step movement to said recording unit, and means for clearing said selector and recording units.

3. An electrical recording device comprising a series of units operable consecutively, Vand consisting of an impulsating unit, a selector unit, and a recording unit, means for rst operating said impulsating unit in a clockwise direction a complete revolution, means for returning said mpulsating unit in a counterclockvvse movement to its neutral position, a pivoted member in the path of travel of groups of teeth consecutively arranged on the periphery of said impulsating unit, said pivoted member being operated for imparting movement to the selector unit When the first group of teeth come in Contact With said pivoted member as said impulsating unit returns to its neutral position, said rst group of teeth also imparting movement to said recording unit by contacting said pivoted member, each of said groups of teeth rst imparting a one step movement to said selector unit and thereafter imparting movement to said recording unit, said selector unit being provided with an arm extending therefrom for contacting a member to move said recording unit in a step by step movement, and means for clearing said selector and recording units.

4. An electrical recording device Vcomprising a series of units operable consecutively, and consisting of an impulsating unit, a selector unit, and a recording unit, means for first operating said impulsating unit in a clockwise direction a complete revolution, means for returning said impulsating unit in a counterclockwise movement to its neutral position, a pivoted member in the path of travel of groups of teeth consecutively arranged on the periphery of said impulsating unit, said pivoted member being operatedfor imparting movement to the selector unit when the iirst group of teeth come in contact with said pivoted member as said impulsating unit returns to its neutral position, said rst group of teeth also imparting movement to said recording unit by contacting said pivoted member, each of said groups of teeth first imparting a one step movement to said selector unit and thereafter imparting movement to said recording unit, a series of magnets and mechanism associated with said selector unit and recording unit for imparting step by step movement to each of said units when said magnets are energized and deenergized, and means for clearing said selector and recording units.

5. An electrical recording device comprising a series of units operable consecutively, and consisting of an impulsating unit, a selector unit, and a recording unit, means for rst operating said impulsating unit in a clockwise direction a complete revolution, means for returning said impulsating unit in a counterclockwise movement to its neutral position, a pivoted member in the path of travel of groups of teeth consecutively arranged on the periphery of said impulsating unit, said pivoted member being operated for imparting movement to the selector unit when the rst group of teeth come in contact with said pivoted member as said impulsating unit returns to its neutral position, said first group of teeth also imparting movement to the said recording unit by contacting said pivoted member, each of said groups of teeth first imparting a one step movement to said selector unit and thereafter imparting movement to said recording unit, and means for clearing said selector and recording units, said means comprising magnets and mechanism on said selector and recording units co-operating with said magnets when energized to clear said selector and recording units.

6. An electrical recording device comprising a series of units operable consecutively, and consisting of an impulsating unit, a selector unit, and a recording unit, means for rst operating said impulsating unit in a clockwise direction one complete revolution, means for returning said impulsating unit in a counterclockwise movement to its neutral position, a series oi' teeth arranged in groups on the periphery of said impulsating unit for operating said selector unit, a member pivoted to said device and adapted to be operated by one of said groups of teeth as the impulsating unit is rotated in a counterclockwise direction, ilexible contact members actuated by said pivoted member for energizing a magnet to impart movement to the selector unit, each of said groups of teeth first imparting a one step movement to said selector unit and thereafter imparting movement to said recording unit; and means for clearing said selector and recording units.

7. The device as set forth in claim 6, wherein said selector unit consists of a series of segments adapted to be individually energized upon rotation of said unit,` and each of said segments electrically connected to said recording unit for imparting movement thereto. Y

PETER A. KUSTRA.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,041,536 Warwick Oct. 15, 1912 1,915,413 Elkins June 27, 1933 1,952,280 Parker Mar. 27, 1934 2,176,346 Hyman Oct. 17, 1939 

